KOCHI: Don’t forget to smile when you are on the Queen’s Walkway in the city. For, the 1.8 km stretch along the Goshree Chathiyath Road will come under CCTV surveillance from Friday. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will officially launch the same in the evening.
The move to install cameras aims at keeping a tab on criminals and check anti-social activities.
A total of 21 bullet CCTV cameras, three advanced 360-degree cameras and also stretch lights have been installed along the state’s first fully-automated walkway.
In case any suspicious activity is spotted, the footage will be sent to the control room at the Goshree Islands Development Authority. The UDF Government had thrown open the Queen’s Walkway to the public after spending almost `5 Crore.
“The decision to bring the area under surveillance was taken after unidentified persons looted the lights, speakers and LED strips along the stretch. Anti-social elements even vandalised the benches. Now, the CCTV footage will allow police to curb such activities,” said Hibi Eden MLA, who had envisaged the project.
He said `14.5 lakh from the Special Development Fund had also been allotted from the project. In phase-II of the project, bio-toilets and WiFi will be installed on the walkway, Eden said.